Evidence of torture of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. personnel has left
many Iraqis and people in the Middle East and the Arab world with the
impression that the United States is no better than Saddam Hussein
regime. Especially when this alleged torture took place in the Abu
Ghraib Prison, a symbol of torture of --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q What can the U.S. do, or what can you do to get out of
this?

THE PRESIDENT: First, people in Iraq must understand that I view
those practices as abhorrent. They must also understand that what took
place in that prison does not represent America that I know. The
America I know is a compassionate country that believes in freedom.
The America I know cares about every individual. The America I know
has sent troops into Iraq to promote freedom -- good, honorable
citizens that are helping the Iraqis every day.

It's also important for the people of Iraq to know that in a
democracy, everything is not perfect, that mistakes are made. But in a
democracy, as well, those mistakes will be investigated and people will
be brought to justice. We're an open society. We're a society that is
willing to investigate, fully investigate in this case, what took place
in that prison.

That stands in stark contrast to life under Saddam Hussein. His
trained torturers were never brought to justice under his regime.
There were no investigations about mistreatment of people. There will
be investigations. People will be brought to justice.

Q When did you learn about the -- did you see the pictures on
TV? When was the first time you heard about --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, the first time I saw or heard about pictures
was on TV. However, as you might remember, in early January, General
Kimmitt talked about a investigation that would be taking place about
accused -- alleged improprieties in the prison. So our government has
been in the process of investigating.

And there are two -- more than two investigations, multiple
investigations going on, some of them related to any criminal charges
that may be filed. And in our system of law, it's essential that those
criminal charges go forward without prejudice. In other words, people
need to be -- are treated innocent until proven guilty. And facts are
now being gathered.

And secondly, there is investigations to determine how widespread
abuse may be occurring. And we want to know the truth. I talked to
the Secretary of Defense this morning, by the way. I said, find the
truth, and then tell the Iraqi people and the world the truth. We have
nothing to hide. We believe in transparency, because we're a free
society. That's what free societies do. They -- if there's a problem,
they address those problems in a forthright, up-front manner. And
that's what's taking place.

Q Mr. President, in a democracy and a free society, as you
mentioned, people investigate, but at the same time, even those who are
not directly responsible for these events take responsibility. With
such a problem of this magnitude, do we expect anyone to step down? Do
you still have confidence in the Secretary of Defense?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, of course, I've got confidence in the Secretary
of Defense, and I've got confidence in the commanders on the ground in
Iraq, because they -- they and our troops are doing great work on
behalf of the Iraqi people. We're finding the few that wanted to try
to stop progress toward freedom and democracy. And we're helping the
Iraqi people stand up a government. We stand side-by-side with the
Iraqis that love freedom.

And -- but people will be held to account. That's what the process
does. That's what we do in America. We fully investigate; we let
everybody see the results of the investigation; and then people will be
held to account.

Q If your State Department issues a human rights report about
practices around the world and abuses, and we call upon countries every
once in a while to --

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q -- try to put pressure on them to allow International Red
Cross to visit prisons and detention center, would you allow the
International Red Cross and other human rights organization to visit
prisons under the control of the U.S. military?

THE PRESIDENT: Of course, we'll cooperate with the International
Red Cross. They're a vital organization. And we work with the
International Red Cross. And you're right, we do point out human
rights abuses. We also say to those governments, clean up your act.
And that's precisely what America is doing.

We've discovered these abuses; they're abhorrent abuses. They do
not reflect -- the actions of these few people do not reflect the
hearts of the American people. The American people are just as
appalled at what they have seen on TV as the Iraqi citizens have. The
Iraqi citizens must understand that. And, therefore, there will be a
full investigation, and justice will be served. And we will do to
ourselves what we expect of others.

And when we say, you've got human rights abuses, take care of the
problem, we will do the same thing. We're taking care of the problem.
And it's -- it is unpleasant for Americans to see that some citizens,
some soldiers have acted this way, because it does -- again, I keep
repeating, but it's true -- it doesn't reflect how we think. This is
not America. America is a country of justice and law and freedom and
treating people with respect.

Q Transferring control of Fallujah, in Iraq, to former army
officers under Saddam Hussein led many people in Iraq, and even in the
Arab world, to believe that the U.S. is lowering its expectation.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q How would you respond?

THE PRESIDENT: Quite the contrary. We're raising expectations.
We believe the Iraqi people can self-govern, and we believe the Iraqi
people have got the capacity to take care of people who are willing to
terrorize innocent Iraqi citizens. And that's what you're seeing in
Fallujah. As a matter of fact, the general in charge of the operation
in Fallujah had been imprisoned by Saddam Hussein. So he felt the
vindictiveness of the Hussein regime.

And I've got confidence that Iraq will be a peaceful,
self-governing nation. And I also have confidence that, with help, the
Iraqi security forces will be strong against foreign terrorists and
others who are willing to kill, and criminals who are willing to try to
wreak havoc in this society. Listen, there are thousands of Iraqi --
innocent Iraqis who are dying at the hands of these killers. And we
want to help decent, honorable Iraqi citizens bring peace and security
to Iraq.

Q So there is no reversal in policy of de-Baathification?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, no. There are citizens, for example, in the --
amongst the teacher ranks in Sunni -- parts of Sunni Iraq that were
denied the right to teach because they may have been affiliated with
the Baathist Party in the past, but who are very important to the
future of Iraq because they're teachers. And of course, they are now
being let back in the classroom, not to spread political propaganda,
but to teach, to teach children.

And obviously, there is a process of balancing those who may have
been affiliated with the Baath Party and those who are terrorists and
killers. And obviously, terrorists and killers and extremists will not
be a part of the government. But people who are by and large peaceful
people, who care deeply about the future of Iraq, will be. And that's
what you're seeing taking place now.

Q It's been over a year since Saddam Hussein regime is
toppled down, and U.S. allies are in place right now in Iraq. What is
your assessment, today, of U.S. allies and the Governing Council and
the various factions of the Iraqi government?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, well, first, I think we've made a lot of
progress in a year.

Q Do you still trust them? Do you still --

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I trust the Iraqi people. Let me put it to
you that way. I believe the Iraqi people want to be free. By far, the
vast majority of Iraqi citizens want to have a life that is peaceful,
so they can raise their children, see that their children are educated,
have a chance for their children to succeed. The business people of
Iraq just want a stable environment for them to be able to run their
businesses and make a living. People want jobs. I mean, there are
normal aspirations in Iraq that give me great confidence in the future
of Iraq. People aspire for the same thing in Iraq as we do in America,
a chance to succeed.

I also have confidence that the process we're under will work,
which is to transfer sovereignty on June 30th. The people of Iraq must
understand, sovereignty will be transferred on June 30th. And there's
a process now in place to make sure that there's an entity to which we
transfer sovereignty. And then there will be elections. And I think
the timetable we're on is a realistic timetable; it's one that will be
met. And I believe that the elections will help the Iraqi citizens
realize that freedom is coming.

Q If I may ask you my final question on the issue of the
peace efforts that you are conducting. You supported Prime Minister
Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza and you sent senior officials to
Israel, and Israeli officials came to Washington and negotiated that
plan. Do you think it was a mistake to support a plan before the Prime
Minister secured the support of his own party?

THE PRESIDENT: I think when you see a step toward peace, it's
important for a peaceful nation like America to embrace it. And I felt
that a withdrawal from the Gaza by the Israeli Prime Minister, as well
as the withdrawal from four settlements from the West Bank by the
Israeli Prime Minister, was a step toward peace. And at the time he
did so, I called for the United States and others to seize this moment
-- the Quartet and the European Union and Russia and the United
Nations, and hopefully the World Bank, to seize this moment and to help
the development of a Palestinian state that will be at peace with its
neighbors; a Palestinian state that will provide hope for
long-suffering Palestinian people.

I think this is an historic moment for the world. I think this is
a good opportunity to step forth. I am confident that a peaceful
Palestinian state can emerge. I'm the first President ever to call for
the establishment of a Palestinian state. I still feel strongly that
there should be one. I also recognize that we have got a duty, all of
us, to fight off the terrorists who are trying to stop the spread of a
peaceful Palestinian state, or the creation of a Palestinian state.

And now is the time to make progress. And I believe we can. There
was a good statement yesterday out of the Quartet that confirmed our
desire for a Palestinian state to emerge. And it's -- what the Prime
Minister of Israel did was -- took a political risk; obviously he did.
I mean, his own party condemned the statement -- condemned the policy.
However, I still believe it was the right thing for him to do. And we
support peace in the Middle East. And we support the vision of two
states, living side by side in peace.